Page 78 of Lady Sings the Blues

20.

Elise

Beau rolls the Explorer to a stop outside Moe’s bar, double parking in front of a row of bikes. Several Lords spill out to greet us as if they’ve been waiting for us. It’s weird to see the Illinois rockers again. Seeing as the last time I had, Beau and I were in a completely different place in our relationship. As in, according tome,we didn’t have one. All my doing, running scared. I even kneed him in the balls.

At the memory, I snicker. Beau glances at me out of the corner of his eyes, smirking. I know he remembers it too.

The men stand guard while Beau and I are escorted inside. Smoke not as thick as the last time I’d been here, but in my opinion, still too thick for this time of day. I fan the air in front of my face, and cough.

Rick, the bartender, waits to speak until the door closes behind us, then he turns to me. “You’re a lot of trouble, little girl.”

Then with a chin lift to Beau, Rick askshim, “Sure you’re not ready for some new snapper?”

I gasp, first from being called such a derogatory word as ‘snapper’—as if I have nothing more to offer than what’s between my legs—and second because, well, I finally admitted to Beau that I love him, and thirdly, this isn’t my fault. Beau predictably pins him with the death glare of all death glares.

Rick holds up his hands like he’s surrendering. “Hey, I’m just saying, plenty of pussy to fuck without all the headache.”

“Keep sayin’ it, and you won’t have to worry about my headaches ‘cuz you’ll be dead. Got me?” Then Beau turns to me. “We’re waitin’ on Liv. Got some business to discuss with the brothers in back. Stay here, yeah?”

“Yeah, baby,” I answer, because this time, I’m not about outrunning Beau, but am all about staying safe and alive.

Very suddenly he fists a handful of my hair to pull me in for a brief, yet highly expressive kiss. Not one of his sweet ones from this morning, but more possessive to show these men exactly what they’re in charge of protecting.

Yes, I get all that from a kiss.

Then just as abruptly he drops his hand and walks out of the main bar area to a room off the back of the bar, by the hallway leading to the restrooms. And he does it leaving me breathless for a moment until a snicker has me recovering quickly.

“I’m Crass.” The snickering man introduces himself.

“No doubt.” Slips out without my meaning it to. Me and my mouth. But luckily he barks out a laugh in lieu of causing me bodily harm.

“You got looks and sass.” The jerk reaches out to run his thumb over my lips. “Can’t tell you how badly I wanna fuck that mouth right now.”

“Um…” Before he gets a wild hair to act on his desire to violate my lips, I slowly back away from him.

“Don’t worry. You’re the founding chapter VP’s old lady, you’re safe. Doesn’t mean I can’t fantasize.”

“I’d rather you didn’t, if it’s all the same. Beau—erm—Boss is the only one who gets to have relations with any part of me, and he’d probably break your neck for looking twice my way.”

He laughs again. “Beau? Seems I really mistook the situation.”

“Uh, how did you take the situation?”

“Thought maybe you started as a piece who worked her way up the ranks. Did your time as a hot mama. If the gash is good enough.”

Dear God, what is wrong with these men?I found snapper bad enough, butgash? That’s reprehensible. “I take offense to the term gash, and I was never a piece or hot mama. Never.”

“Can see that now. A hot mama, even elevated to old lady, would never call Boss by his given name. Now you’re really safe. You girlie, just earned my personal protection.”

“Why? If you don’t mind me asking?”

“Let’s just say I know a little about having it and having it taken away.”

I understand a great deal about this man now. “Sorry,” I tell him with nothing else to say, because I am.

But he doesn’t answer me, instead turns to slam the whiskey Rick had slid on the bar next to him while we were talking.

His signal to the end of our conversation. But now having had it, I feel safer being here until Beau can bring me back home.

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